MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

Imagine Films’ Buyout Under Dispute: Filmmakers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer made formal Wednesday their long-awaited plan to pay $23.5 million for the 46% of Imagine Films Entertainment they don’t already own. But some angry shareholders and their lawyers, who believe that the $9-a-share price is inadequate, threatened to seek a court order to stop the deal. The announcement that agreement on a buyout has been reached culminates months of maneuvering since Howard and Grazer, who served until November as co-chief executive officers, disclosed in April that they planned to leave the Century City film producer. Shortly after that, the two signed a six-year production deal with MCA Inc.’s Universal Pictures.